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Six Spiritual Hazards to Know About Your Phone

What's Driving Your Life: A 10-Day Turnaround for a Fresh Start

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40 Days of Love

If you have a smartphone, you have more power at your fingertips than you likely realize. For example, your phone is more powerful than the technology NASA had when they put a man on the moon. Or consider the first hard drive, which held 5 megabytes of storage, yet weighed several thousand pounds. Your smartphone, even the least expensive one, has at least 6,000 times that storage. Even back in 2007, when Time magazine named the iPhone its invention of the year, we had no idea the impact the smartphone would have on us. It is, by far, the most behavior-changing invention in the history of mankind. Nothing else comes close. Just think of some of the things we can do more easily now than we could before the invention of smartphones:

We can get directions to anywhere we want in seconds.
We can purchase (or borrow) nearly any book in existence, wherever we are.
We can check our bank account and get the latest news with a couple of quick taps on our phone.

But with great power comes great responsibility. There are downsides to the age of the smartphone. You carry in your pocket a new source for old temptations. Pastor, here are six hazards you need to know about your phone.

1. Our phones waste our time.

Time is your most precious commodity. You only have a limited amount of it. The average person will live 27,375 days. If you are older than 27 years old, you’ve lived 10,000 of those days. You’ll never get those days back. So be careful how you live. “Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” (Ephesians 5:15-16 NLT). We live carefully when we live purposefully. We spend more than three hours a day looking at our phones. That’s nearly one day out of every week—or 11 years of our lives! That might not be a sin, but it’s likely not the best use of our time.

2. Our phones can seduce us to the world’s values.

The world is constantly shouting at you through the Internet. Now you carry the Internet around in your pocket. That’s a temptation previous generations of Christians didn’t face. The world’s value system of sex, salary, and status is on your screen every time you open it. If you listen to what you find online for long enough, you’ll start thinking it’s right. Eventually, you’ll copy the behavior. Paul tells us this in Romans 12:2: “Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him” (CEV). In the world’s value system, only the most beautiful people who have the most fun and the most money matter. The world on your cell phone echoes that value system. It’s hard to resist those pulls when you’re always on your phone.

3. Our phones can draw us into unproductive arguments.

This is very easy, particularly on social media. We read something that offends us, and every bone in our body wants to respond in anger. But we can’t. Why? Paul tells us why in Titus 3:9: “Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees . . . things are useless and a waste of time” (NLT). Some people live to hook you. They are always looking for a fight. Don’t fall for the bait.

4. Our phones can tempt us to compete and show off.

We want everyone to know we have it all together—our families run smoothly, our churches are growing, and our spiritual lives never hit roadblocks. Every pastor knows that’s not true. But that’s what we see when we open Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or other social media apps. People always want to put their best foot forward. Do you know who also did that? The Pharisees. It’s the sin that Jesus hated the most in them. He called them hypocrites when he saw it in them. Jesus said, “Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:1 NLT). When you post a photo of yourself doing something godly so others can fawn over it, you’ve already gotten your reward.

5. Our phones can get us addicted to the approval of others.

That’s what makes social media so addictive. Every time we post something, we keep checking back to see if people like what we’ve shared. It’s a big reason we check our phones so often. Paul didn’t have a smartphone, but he understood the temptation and committed to live counter-culturally in this respect. In Galatians 1:10 he wrote, “I am not trying to please people. I want to please God. Do you think I am trying to please people? If I were doing that, I would not be a servant of Christ” (CEV). You can’t be a servant of Christ and try to please others. It’s impossible.

6. Our phones can get us distracted from what’s most important.

When you’re willing to spend 11 years of your life on your smartphone and pick it up at all times of the day, no matter what you’re doing, it has more value than anything else in your life. Your phone then has become your god. At that point, you don’t own the phone; the phone owns you. Remember the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10? Martha is busy doing important work—preparing a meal and being a good hostess. But Jesus praises Mary for doing something even more important—spending time with him. If you have an opportunity to scan your social media feed on your phone, you have time to spend at the feet of Jesus. Your phone can be a powerful tool for the glory of God (which I’ll write about next week), but it can also be a dangerous saboteur of a purpose driven life. The choice is really yours.

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Four Marks of Holiness From Psalm 24

Pastor, God is looking for holy leaders.Hebrews 12:14 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (NIV) Holiness won’t happen on autopilot. You have to fight for it in your schedule, your thoughts, your habits, and your words.Why should you pursue holiness? God says, “Be holy because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45 GW).That’s the heart of it, pastor. When the Spirit is filling your life, you don’t just feel comforted; you feel called. You want to look like Jesus.So what does it mean to be holy?Psalm 24:3-4 says, “Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god” (NIV).In other words, these are the characteristics of the person who gets blessed by God. If you want the blessing of the Lord, Psalm 24 gives four simple marks of holiness.1. Clean handsClean hands mean a clear conscience.Think about the tabernacle in the Old Testament. When you walked into the court, the first thing you would do is wash at the brass washbasin. It’s a picture of cleansing. The starting point for a holy life is a cleansed life.Does that mean you will be perfect? No, because no one is perfect. It means you keep short accounts with God; you don’t let sin sit.Scripture says, “If we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away” (1 John 1:9 CEV). When you sin, you need to agree with God about it; you need to confess it.You won’t have much spiritual strength with a guilty conscience. A clean engine produces more power, and the same is true in your life.2. A pure heartPsalm 24 also says a holy person has a pure heart. This is about your motives. A pure heart reflects pure motives.Jeremiah 48:10 says, “A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the LORD’s work!” (NIV). When you’re “lax in doing the LORD’s work,” that means you’re doing it with mixed motives.God can do a lot through the pastor with pure motives, who doesn’t care who gets the credit. So in private, talk to the Lord: “God, examine my heart. Clear out the junk. Make my motives pure before you.”3. HumilityPsalm 24:4 says a holy person is someone “who does not trust in an idol” (NIV). This speaks to humility.Pride goes before destruction. God doesn’t take pride lightly. Pride kicked Satan out of heaven. Pride caused Pharaoh to lose his nation. Pride led to Herod being stricken and dying on the spot.So be aware of pride’s power in your life. Proverbs 18:12 says, “Pride leads to destruction” (CEV).4. HonestyPsalm 24:4 goes on to say that a holy person doesn’t “swear by a false god” (NIV). That’s about being honest, having the right words, and using holy language. In other words, you need to watch what you say.Psalm 39:1 says, “I’ll be careful not to sin by what I say” (CEV). One of the easiest ways we sin is by talking too much. When you talk too much, you lose spiritual weight. It is like a steam engine. If it is always letting off steam through the whistle, it builds up no power. But if it stores up the steam, then when it releases it, it can move an engine.Are you quick with angry words? Sarcastic words? Put-down words? Pray and ask God, “Where do I need to watch my words?” When you boil it all down, to be holy is to keep a clear conscience, purify your motives, walk in humility, and speak honestly with guarded words.That is what it means to be holy. And God uses holy people.

Who Is Watching Out for You?

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)Pastor, you probably know what it’s like to watch over others while quietly feeling unseen yourself. You help people stay steady in temptation, grief, conflict, and doubt. You pray for them, counsel them, and carry burdens you cannot always share.So here is a Monday-morning question worth asking: Who is watching out for you?When you go on vacation, you ask someone to keep an eye on the house. That is wisdom. But in ministry, it is easy to let the “watching out” stop with everyone else. And when a pastor becomes isolated, discouragement can deepen, temptations get louder, and blind spots grow.Scripture gives a better way: “Look out for one another's interests, not just for your own” (Philippians 2:4 GNT). God intends for the family of God to be a protective gift, not just a place we serve.Ecclesiastes calls it a braided cord. Strength comes from connection. Not performative connection. Not “I have plenty of people around me.” Real, honest, mutual care.Pastor, you were not meant to stand alone.Here’s a simple encouragement for this week: Choose one trusted person and invite a real check-in. Not a ministry update. A soul check. The Lord often protects pastors through faithful friends who lovingly “look out” when you cannot see what is happening in your own blind spots.You are better together.

Lead with Your Ears First

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” James 1:19 (NIV)Pastor, have you noticed how hard it is to be heard these days?Conversations move fast. Opinions move faster. Everyone has something to say—and most people are ready to say it before anyone else finishes.And if we’re not careful, that hurried pace can slip into our leadership.After a long Sunday, you may walk into Monday already carrying frustration. A critical comment. A tense hallway exchange. A leadership disagreement that didn’t resolve. When you’re tired, it doesn’t take much to spark irritation.That’s why James’s words are so timely for church leaders: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19 NIV).Notice the order:Quick to listenSlow to speakSlow to become angryIn ministry, listening is more than a communication skill. It’s a pastoral discipline. When you truly listen to a staff member, a volunteer, or a hurting church member, you’re modeling the patience of Christ. You’re saying, “You matter enough for me to slow down.”Anger in leadership doesn’t always look explosive. Some pastors are what you might call “skunks.” When they’re upset, everyone knows it. The room fills with tension. Words come quickly and sharply.Others are “turtles.” They retreat into their shells. The frustration simmers quietly. Nothing is said—but nothing is resolved either.Both styles can wound a church. Both need the same remedy: Slow down and listen first.Listening forces humility. It creates space for understanding. It lowers the temperature in the room. And often, it reveals that what first felt like defiance was really confusion, fear, or hurt.Pastor, your people don’t need a reaction. They need a shepherd.So before you respond to that email. Before you correct that staff member. Before you step into that difficult conversation—pause.Ask one more question. Pray one short prayer.Take one slow breath. Be quick to listen. Be slow to speak. And you may find your anger softening into wisdom.That kind of leadership reflects the heart of Christ. And your church will feel the difference.

Before You Lead, Be Still

“Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he could pray.” Luke 5:15–16 (NCV)Pastor, after a full Sunday of preaching, praying, counseling, and carrying the needs of others, Monday can feel strangely quiet.And strangely heavy.In a world of constant pressure and ministry demands, prayer is more than a discipline; it’s your lifeline.Jesus understood that. The Gospels show him repeatedly stepping away from the noise and expectations to be alone with the Father. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35 NIV). And Luke tells us this wasn’t occasional—it was his rhythm. Crowds grew. Needs multiplied. But “Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he could pray” (Luke 5:15–16 NCV).If the Son of God needed unhurried time with the Father, how much more do you?You may think, I don’t have time. The meetings are waiting. The emails are stacking up. Next Sunday is already coming.But you have nothing lasting to give your church if you’re running on empty.God doesn’t just call you to shepherd others. He calls you to let him shepherd you.“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 NCV). Stillness isn’t weakness. It’s trust. It’s the quiet confession that God is God—and you are not.So carve out a small space today. Not to prepare a message. Not to plan a strategy. Just to listen.Sit before God and ask, “Father, what do you want to say to me?”You may sense a gentle nudge. A Scripture coming to mind. A quiet correction. Or simply a deep breath of peace that reminds you you’re not carrying this ministry alone.And if worry crowds your thoughts—about your family, church attendance, leadership conflicts, finances—let God redirect your attention to his Word. Anchor your mind there instead of spiraling through scenarios.Pastor, God wants to speak to you. Not just through you. He isn’t waiting for you to perform. He’s inviting you to be present. Step away for a moment. Let him refill what Sunday poured out.Then return to your calling, not depleted, but renewed.

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